Autumn: A Pop-up Book

Carter follows Winter and Spring with a third seasonal title, which uses gentle free verse to pull readers forward: “Autumn days bring a chill in the air,/ colorful leaves float gently from trees,/ and the fields are full of life.” Plants and animals, all labeled, dot the scenes pictured in the accompanying images—a cluster of pop-up squash, a tree whose yellow leaves dangle from strings, and late-season wildflowers that seem to grow as the pop-up takes shape. Questions directed at readers (“Who sings a beautiful song?/ Who hunts from the sky?”) encourage engagement as night falls in the mountainous landscape. It’s an impressive introduction to a busy season, both for the animals preparing for winter and because of the bounty of food awaiting harvest. Ages 3–5. (Aug.)